I touch myself
Cleansing is the first step in any skin care routine, and the first step in self care.
Particularly at night, it may be the first time all day that you touch yourself and take time out for you. Not only does it clear away product build-up, makeup, and environmental impurities including pollutants and free radicals, but it will create the perfect environment required from active skincare ingredients to penetrate the skin.
There are many cleansers on the market, and depending on what your skin needs on any given day, it is helpful to have a few on hand. Between testing new ones and my go-to's, I have about 10-12 cleansing products and tools on rotation at any time.
I encourage a morning and evening cleanse. Your morning cleanse is to prep skin for topical formulations and remove any oil that was recreated throughout the night that will heighten the skin's natural lipid barrier. Your night time routine is much busier as we may be removing make up and pollutants.
Oil and Balm Cleansers
These are great for problem and inflamed skin. They dissolve the excess sebum (oil dissolves oil), and protect the skin without stripping it. These are also great for makeup and sunscreen removal.
One of my very favourite treatments is to use Environ’s Pre-Cleansing Oil, followed by their Hydrating Clay mask.
The oil breaks down the impurities and the clay pulls them out of the skin.
Mesoesthetic Hydra Fusion Cleanser is a recent launch, and a new breed of cleansing, taking 3 vital things into account for a healthy cleanse, micro biome and ph balance of the ski, trans-epidermal transportation of topical formulations and environment pollutants and free radicals on the surface of the skin.
Cream Cleansers
I love to cream cleanse at night. Great for dry, dehydrated or sensitive skin. They are hydrating and comforting and gently support the skin barrier.
My favourites are Hydra Intense Cleansing Milk from Environ skincare. Containing olive oil esters and hydrolysed oats to support the lipid barrier as well as Vit B5(Panthenol) which is calming and soothing making this product perfect for rosacea skin and inflamed skin, who normally find cleansing uncomfortable.
Gel Cleansers
Previously considered to be a choice for oily skin but cleansing gels and washes are now infused with ingredients like B5 and oats, making them key players in a gentle, non abrasive cleanse. Personally, I love to use a wash in the shower each morning.
Low foaming gel from Environ and Brightening foam from Mesoestetic, it contains glycolic and lactic acid which works great on pigmentation.
Gentle Exfoliating Cleansers
A very effective way of boosting your results , particularly in the winter, and this will enhance transdermal transportation of your actives as well as working on cellular renewal and brightening the skin.
Mesoesthetic have just launched The Ultimate micro peel. This will remove dead cells, refine texture and smooth out imperfections.
Another favourite of mine is Clay Mask from Environ, its formula assists in absorbing excess oil and micro-exfoliating the skin, leaving it smoother and more radiant.
I am a Skin Therapist based in Monica Tolan Clinic, Malahide. I am from Dublin and I am 27 years old. After finishing secondary school, I went on to study beauty specialist diploma in Marino College of further Education in Dublin.I have been working in the Industry for over 8 years and joined the Monica Tolan team over 3 years ago.
I have vast experience in all aspects of the Beauty Industry and have worked with many different skincare brands and studied an array of different skincare treatments. When I joined the team at Monica Tolan my passion for skincare was reignited. I was given the opportunity to work with some of the best medical grade skincare and avail of some of the best training I have had over the years.
and gt;My favourite thing about working at Monica Tolan is the constant knowledge and training provided and getting to pass this knowledge to clients and help them achieve real results, reach their skincare goals and for some clients change their life through treating their skin.
My favourite treatments to perform in the clinic is CST skin needling and our customised facial treatments. I’m very proud and privileged to be part of an amazing team and work alongside the best skin experts in the industry